Oh the quandry! I have purchased several variety errors slabbed by ANACS. I don't really care for slabs and would rather have them in my DANSCO album designated to varieties? I only bought these becuase I won them for the same or less than they would have cost raw. I want to brake them out but hate to at the same time seems like a waste and would be easier to sell if I ever wanted to. Just wondering how many of you brake out (Free) slabbed coins?
Simple.......If you are going to resell them, leave them incased. If you are going to keep them and enjoy the hobby, yank those little suckers out of that plastic and have fun. The decision is ALL yours!
Any hints on cracking NGC holders. I have a tool for cracking PCGS, ANACS and ICG, but it doesnt work for NGC. I have heard of a hammer or vice technique, if you can call it that. The tool I have looks like horse shoe pliers, but the snips come out from the edge a bit. I was wondering if a dremel tool with a router bit would work?
Wrap in a towell, stand the holder on it's side, and crack the edge with a hammer. The two halves will seperate. Bone
About 6 months ago I broke open a first generation PCGS holder to remove a Double Eagle. I used a vise, a shop towel, 2 flathead screwdrivers, a utility knife, and a hacksaw. I removed the coin without hurting it, but it was quite a job. I don't think I'll be doing it again any time soon.
I agree with OldDan There is a new tool on the market that helps crack open slabs...here is a link to a ebay seller... http://cgi.ebay.com/CRACK-PCGS-ICG-...ryZ39457QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem He is the only one I know of that sells them...a good guy I have known for some time... Speedy
Well from looking at it I think its not the same thing as the tool at the Hardware store....but then it could be...Leave it to him to think that up! Speedy
It’s call an "end nipper". Electricians can use them to cut and strip the ends of heave wire. I use a pair to cut small air and water lines. :secret: http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/eplus/826694100068_3.jpg
Well It sounds like you all regularly remove coins from slabs! How do you feel about population reports from TPG's? If collectors are breaking them out because we don't care for slabs and dealers break the same coin out over and over to resubmit hoping for a higher grade than just how accurate are the pop reports? I guess I should just figure in some fudge factor? Do the TPG's even try to address this issue in their Pop reports?
:hammer: I don't have any slabs but I think Bonedigger's method is probably one of the safest. One tip is to use a dead blow hammer with a soft head so you don't completely destroy the holder. It may add a small amount of protection in case the hammer came into contact with the coin. A normal hammer is more likely to splinter plastic, but a dead blow will transfer more force through the slab and crack it open. Just make sure you do this in a carpeted area so the coin doesn't unexpectedly fall onto hard concrete and make your prized coin go down 5 or more grades. Nippers may work, but you should get one with long handles since it requires a lot of force to crack a slab open. The smaller ones that typically come in electronics kits probably wouldn't cut it. (no pun intended)
Get either bolt cutters or tile nips Grab the slab @ 3:00 cut then @ 9:00 cut Your coin is now free As far as the tags If you send them back to PCGS you get .50 per tag credit Don't Know about any of the others I just cracked two this morning for my Dansco 70/70 type Album Hope this helps Paul PS One step everyone forgot WEAR SAFTY GLASSES
The Question Speedy asked about the population reports, Its even been talked about by david Bowers, he also said the same that people keep re-submitting them so, the no.s would be messed-up, also the no.s will keep going up. I dont use them, but will take a look just becouse.....
I've break out every one I've ever bought and there have been lots of methods posted on how to do it on this and many forums. The best way I've found is to just take a saber saw or scroll saw with a metal cutting blade and cut off all the corners. You have to move rather fast or the heat of the blade will melt the plastic back together. If no power saw like that is available to you, a hack saw with a metal cutting blade will also work. If you try hammers, pliers, etc you will get plastic fragements all over the place and possibly ruin the coin, you eyes or damage something in the area. If you do that in a house you'll probably have a wife at you with a hammer. Also, save the discription tag inside. What I do is to put them all on those little yellow sticky paper things and put them on the inside cover of each album the coin is in that came out of a plastic slab.
I'm all for using two pliers and a strong grip. I have bought coins slabbed by a number of grading companies to fill in my "raw" collection. BTW, my raw Lincolns before 1946 are stored in Intercept Shield 2x2's on a Eagle page holder. Got to keep those that are "red", red! I bought them slabbed (sight, unseen) because at the very minimum, I knew what I was getting.
